Scientists from Oxford University found that honey is a better treatment for upper respiratory tract infections than traditional remedies.
The research was published in BMJ Evidence-based Medicine and was conducted by Hibatullah Abuelgasim et al.
Upper respiratory tract infections are common viral infections that affect the nose, throat, and airways.
Symptoms usually resolve within two weeks and include a scratchy or sore throat, sneezing, stuffy nose, and cough.
Viruses cause most upper respiratory tract infections. The most common virus is rhinovirus, which causes the common cold. Other viral causes include influenza which causes the flu and can cause more serious illnesses.
Treatment includes rest and medication to relieve symptoms.
Previous research has found that antibiotic prescriptions for upper respiratory tract infections can make resistance worse. There is a strong need for effective alternatives to antibiotic prescribing.
Honey is a sweet, viscous food substance made by honeybees and some other bees.
According to recent studies, honey may be useful and has protective effects for the treatment of various disease conditions such as diabetes, respiratory, heart, and nervous systems, even if it is useful in cancer treatment.
Honey is a lay remedy for URTIs, and has more evidence base for its use. Scientists found honey has antimicrobial properties, and guidelines recommended honey for acute cough in children.
In the current study, researchers aimed to examine the effectiveness of honey for reducing symptoms in URTIs.
They did a review and meta-analysis of 14 published articles.
The team found that compared with usual care, honey improved upper respiratory tract infection symptoms, cough frequency, and cough severity.
The researchers suggested that honey was superior to usual care for the improvement of symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections.
It provides a widely available and cheap alternative to antibiotics. Honey could help efforts to slow the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
In the future, high-quality, well-controlled trials are needed to confirm the findings.
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